MALCOLM Glazer will press ahead and take Manchester United off the Stock Exchange next Wednesday even if he has failed to buy up all the remaining shares.

The American tycoon has earmarked June 22 as the date he will de-list the company and take it into his private control.

Glazer is within a whisker of assuming complete ownership of the club. His investment vehicle Red Football have increased their United shares to 97.3% of the total and need just another 0.3% to pass the 97.6% threshold to begin the compulsory purchase of any remaining shares.

Glazer has extended his offer of 300p a share for a further fortnight, until June 27, but even if he has not reached the threshold by next Wednesday it is understood that he will press ahead with de-listing.

A source close to Red Football said: "Even if they do not achieve the 97.6% they can still de-list the company and June 22 is the date they are looking to do that."

Once the company is taken off the Stock Exchange, Glazer can call an extraordinary general meeting to ask for United to become a private company and for his personal debts to be transferred onto the club.

Through Red Football, Glazer has borrowed é265million secured against United's assets and a further é275million in "pay-in-kind" loans known as Piks. These are thought to have to be repaid within five years and have very high interest rates of around 18%, and it is these which could then be transferred onto the club.

Henk Potts, football finance expert for Barclays stockbrokers, said as far as the takeover was concerned, Glazer had won.

He added: "It may be 97.3% ownership but it's 100% game over now. He's won the battle for Manchester United, the question is now whether he can win the war - which is replaying the loans and huge premiums."